THE "VIVA IL CANTO" FESTIVAL OF VOCAL MUSIC was first organized in 1992 on the initiative of Malgorzata Mendel-Miska, lecturer at the Art Department of Silesian University (Cieszyn Branch), deputy director of the Music Institute and the Festival's director general. Kaludi Kaludow, the renowned tenor, was the event's co-organizer and artistic director for twelve years, and Pawel Orski is the programme director.
The Festival, which takes place in the last ten days of every August, had an international reach from the start, and has been named THE "VIVA IL CANTO" INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF VOCAL MUSIC in 2003.
Rather broad in scope, the Festival encompasses a variety of forms of vocal music, such as large oratorio and symphony works, opera and operetta performances, vocal recitals, gala concerts with orchestras, and chamber music performed by music theatres, orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, singers and conductors from various countries. All in all, some 600 musicians come to Cieszyn every August. The Festival's permanent locations include the local churches, Adam Mickiewicz Theatre, concert halls at the National House and the State Music School, the museum, the Silesian Castle of Art and Entrepreneurship as well as the town's picturesque Market Square and Castle Hill.
One of the aims of the Festival is to promote young singers by giving them a chance to appear on the Festival stages and side by side with the finest artists. The event therefore attracts many young musicians, especially now that master courses and workshops for vocal students have been launched. The quest for new artistic ideas in Festival productions has likewise attracted a young generation of music lovers.
Until 2005 the Festival was organised by the Viva il Canto Association of Music Lovers in Cieszyn. Now that the Cieszyn Association Via Musica is the organizer, the event has also launched an INTERNATIONAL MUSIC WORKSHOP OF CREATIVE YOUTH and the opening of a European Vocal School is being planned in the near future.
Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska Polish Music Information Center Polish Composers' Union August 2006 | |
ul. Polna 3/5
43-400 Cieszyn
Phone: (+48) 0 509 641 679
Phone/Fax: (+48 33) 851 05 51
WWW: www.vivailcanto.pl
Email: info@vivailcanto.pl, viva_art@wp.pl